Changing Strategy to Stop Gold Panners in Chiquibul

Rafael Manzanero

According to Manzanero, the Ceibo Chico conservation post was installed three years ago and despite presence of joint B.D.F. and FCD patrols in the southernmost area of the Chiquibul, Guatemalan gold panners remain undeterred. Gold panning activities remain at an all time high and Manzanero says that they have since changed their approach to tackle the issue.

Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD

“The idea of putting that one was basically also to contain the gold panners in that area. Since the last three years of active presence in the zone, we still have not been able to contain that. Gold panning continues to occur; Guatemalans have changed now their activities from day time to night time so it makes it even much more difficult to be able to contain the issue. So what are we doing in the zone? We are also changing now the strategies as best as possible to try to operate also at night and be able to go in—first to monitor, and then be able to put in an operation in place. Of course this is also being planned with the Belize Defense Force and the police.”